Apple’s AirPlay allows iPhone users to mirror their screens to the TV, so they can play videos and music or view photos. We’ll focus specifically on a few different ways to do this.
also: How to connect a laptop to a TV – quickly and easily
If you want to AirPlay on your TV, make sure your iPhone and TV, Roku, or Apple TV 4K are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you have a Roku that you use to connect, make sure it has the latest updates by going to Settings > System > System update > Check now.
How to stream from your iPhone to your TV using AirPlay
We’ll cover two easy ways to cast from your iPhone to your TV: You can choose to use screen mirroring or stream certain media like photos and videos without mirroring your screen.
I will select a video on AirPlay on my TV. So I just went to my pictures and tapped a video to run this example.
Once you’ve chosen a video or photo, hit the Share button at the bottom left of the screen.
Scroll down past your sharing options until you find AirPlay, then tap that.
Available devices on your network will appear, giving you the option to choose a TV or streaming device to play your chosen media.
The selected media will be played on your selected TV. You can skip forward, zoom in and out, or play Live Photos, all from your iPhone.
The media will only play on the TV, your iPhone screen will not be mirrored. Photo: Maria Diaz/ZDNet
How to use screen mirroring on iPhone
Apart from using AirPlay, the other option to stream media from your iPhone to your TV is to use screen mirroring. The biggest difference between the two is that screen mirroring will display your iPhone screen on the TV, so you can watch more than just a video or photo, for example. So you can read a website or message on TV.
Swipe down on the iPhone screen to access the Control Center and tap on Screen Mirroring, it’s the button with two screens overlapping.
This will show available devices either nearby or on your network that you can share your screen with.
Tap on the TV where you want your iPhone screen to be mirrored. In this case, I chose my LG TV. Your phone screen should now be visible on the TV, and you can use your phone to find the media you want to view.
If you play your videos, you’ll notice that only the video and audio play on the TV, allowing you to use your phone as a remote control to control what you’re watching.
With screen mirroring, you can share everything on your iPhone screen to your TV. Photo: Maria Diaz/ZDNet
This is how you can AirPlay to a TV from your iPhone. Screen mirroring lets you take advantage of displaying whatever is most likely on your iPhone on a larger screen to share with others in the room, all enabled from Control Center, where you can pause, play, rewind or fast forward.
Instructions
What is the difference between AirPlay and Screen Mirroring?
Screen mirroring will display everything on your iPhone screen on the TV, so everything you do on your phone will be visible on the big screen. When you use AirPlay, you’re streaming media from your phone to your TV without sharing your screen to the TV. Just like we listen to music on our phones through a Bluetooth headsetAirPlay simply connects to your Smart TV to display the media you want to view.
How do I stop mirroring my screen?
If you’re done mirroring your screen and want to stop, go to File Control Center again by swiping down in the top right corner, then selecting screen mirroring repeatedly. On the next screen, tap Stop reflecting.
Why can’t I stream on my Roku TV or stick?
Now, if you have a Roku and you can’t find it in the list of available devices on AirPlay, you can go to Settings > Apple AirPlay and HomeKit And make sure AirPlay is on the playback option. You can also set your preferences for accessing AirPlay on this page.
Can I use AirPlay with a Fire TV Stick?
a Fire TV Stick Not compatible and will require a third party app, such as AirScreen or Apowermirror.
Not all TVs are compatible with AirPlay 2, so if you’re in the market for a TV and screen that mirrors your iPhone, you may want to check the specs when choosing a TV to make sure it works with Apple AirPlay. If your TV is not compatible but you have a Rocco or Apple TV 4KYou can still use AirPlay to mirror your iPhone screen.
Why won’t my iPhone connect to the TV?
If you get a message that says “Cannot connect to Device x,” your phone probably isn’t connected to the same network as the device you want to AirPlay to. Verify that your iPhone’s Wi-Fi is on and connected to the same network as your device .
also: How to view iPhone mirroring on Samsung TV
If the problem persists, restart your phone and TV and try again. Restarting the router may also help in resolving this issue.
Can I use AirPlay without an Apple TV or Apple TV+ subscription?
You don’t need an Apple TV or subscription to use AirPlay. All you need is to connect your iPhone and TV to the same network, then follow the above instructions. AirPlay is simply a feature of Apple devices.